1681
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Catherine of Aragon, First Wife of Henry VIII is a 1681 ink by Robert White, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This is a black-and-white portrait of a woman dressed in heavy, ornate clothes. Her collar is stiff and decorated with strings of pearls, and her hair is covered by a tall, lacy headdress. The background is plain, but the border around her face has a detailed, woven pattern. The dates and text around the image list key events in her life, like her marriages and death. The crown above the shield suggests she was connected to royalty. Look up engraving to see how artists carved detailed images like this into metal plates.
Robert White (1645 – 1703) was an English draughtsman and engraver. A Londoner, he was a pupil of David Loggan, and became a leading portrait engraver. White was celebrated for his original portraits, drawn in pencil on…
See the richer artist page
